To the viewpoint hill Benát also via the Rudná Magistrála

Žitavany bus stop is the starting point of today's trip to Benát hill (702 m above sea level) in the Pohronský Inovec range. If you plan to travel by car, parking is possible on weekends in front of COOP Jednota.

An important fact is that almost the entire route today will follow the Rudná Magistrála, which connects Stolica hill in the Stolické vrchy with the town Zlaté Moravce. The Magistrála links towns with a mining history over a total length of 240 km and is the third longest magistrála in the Slovak Republic.

At the start, we walk on an asphalt surface up to the Vŕšky spring, where we connect to a forest path. In the adjacent meadows, we can see aurochs grazing in an enclosure, which are not often encountered during nature walks. From the Žitavany - Vŕšky signpost the terrain character gradually changes and the slope increases significantly. The Rudná Magistrála gradually leads us to higher altitudes.

Immediately by the red trail mark, we see an old abandoned cottage with seating, which can serve as a temporary shelter in case of bad weather. At the Machulinský Škripec crossroads below Prosný peak we say goodbye to the Rudná Magistrála for a moment. Machulinský Škripec is a large meadow from which you can spot the highest peak of the Tribeč range - Veľký Tribeč 830 m above sea level. This time the red trail is replaced by a yellow trail towards Benát hill for about 1.5 kilometers. At first we walk through the mentioned meadow, then we weave through beeches until at one point we see the silhouette of a rocky city, which is a remnant of volcanic activity. During the ascent through the rocky city we admire massive andesite formations - towers, pillars and bastions.

It is no wonder that Benát is one of the most beautiful and most visited peaks of the Pohronský Inovec range. The beauty of this place is enhanced by distant views of peaks/places in the Tribeč range such as Zobor, Žibrica, Veľký Lysec, Ploská, Veľký Tribeč, Javorový vrch, Gymeš, Hrušov and the distant Považský Inovec range. From Benát hill, there is no hurry and we fully enjoy these views from andesite rocks. On one of them, you can also find a Slovak double cross.

Full of enthusiasm from this exceptional place, we return back to the village of Žitavany by the same route - following the yellow and red hiking trail marks.